We have had a great start this New Year with enough money to pay off all our bills and to give our staff a raise. Most still make under $100.00 a month but they are appreciative of having a full time job, something most people in the countryside don’t have. Because of our financial status we have been making some needed changes to help us adapt to our every changing program. Here are just a few of them:

We were given a new washing machine to help us with doing the daily washing of clothes and because we have a problem with neighbors stealing our clothes of the line, we built this special room with a fenced in area for drying that should cut down on work and loss of clothing.

Our volunteer house has been in need of repair for a long time and with the addition of Melinda and Kate as long term volunteers we needed a place with some privacy. Putting in a new entrance is just the beginning of changes to the house. Soon the porch area will be two large private bedrooms, which should make things much more comfortable.

But before that can happen, we must finish building the new rooms for the older boys who must move from their dorm to make room for the new Children’s Creative Learning Center, which is presently in the old hospice, which must be readied for the new medical and isolation ward that will open when Kate gets here. The boy’s rooms are being built on the foundation of the Hydroponic gardens which didn’t work out like we had hoped. That program is not over, however, we are still trying to come up with a system that will work and have hired a new gardener from the community to help us.

And as happens, our children are growing up and several are doing quite well. Here is a picture of three of our older children receiving their Pre-Instructors certificates in Yoga. Hopefully we will be able to find the funds to keep them studying, as some of the training to be a Yoga teacher, is done in Phnom Penh.

And finally the news of progress in my personal Spiritual Journey…

Finding Enlightenment was difficult… now all I have to do is learn how to control the Halo.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

February 26, 2011

PS… Anyone who didn’t laugh immediately at my last comment is taking their religion far to serious.

Hi Everyone,

Our Christmas gift this year was a trip to Rabbit Island, paid for by Andy Gray and Caroline Broissand. You can read their stories here along with many good pictures of the day including some of the great white whale who hadn’t been in the water for over 17 years.

http://www.photosensibility.com/2011/01/04/at-the-beach/

http://tsoham.info/index_files/carolinebroissand2.htm

Wayne

Our Christmas tree this year was about as barren as the gifts beneath it. A few teddy bears left over from a previous shipment earlier in the year from Sheriff Don and some soap and deodorant for the older children. Caroline brought some Christmas cake and everyone got an apple. There was Christmas music playing in the background and a short message about Christmas which any of the kids could have given because they all know the story well. Nothing much, but no one complained and in fact most were very happy with what they got.

It doesn’t take much to satisfy our kids, they buy their clothes from the local market for less then a dollar at any number of stalls that sell used clothes from the USA. It is much more durable then the clothes made locally and they feel stylish wearing them. Some underwear were donated by Adam, Yona, and Naomi and the kids were very happy to get these because the local stuff rips after the first washing.

We do have much to be grateful for. Our computer room was just finished and they now have internet service thanks to Robyn and her friends… and the boy’s dorm finally has private rooms for the older boys thanks to groups like the Sakka Foundation and Reach and Restore Hope.

And with some of the extra money we were even able to remodel our kitchen which was badly in need of it.

We are grateful to all who have helped us in this year. We now have four of our community children studying in University, and two others in trade school. They all live in Phnom Penh and live a very meager life style but they are use to it growing up in Wat Opot. One of the things I like most about Wat Opot is that there is very little complaining about not having personal things. We all share what we have and are grateful for it. How unfortunate that much of the world prefers to ignore this simple truth.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

There was a dance last night at Wat Opot, a kind of warm-up for our annual Celebration of Jesus birthday. The occasion was the last night of Adam, Yona, and their daughter Naomi’s stay with us. They did some family singing with guitar and fiddle before the dance. It was the first time our kids had heard country music and they were especially interested in hearing Adam play our violin like a fiddle.

After their performance we turned up the music and the children did what they know how to do best. Dance! Everyone got involved… well almost everyone.

Mr. Tee, who is usually in the center of the dance floor, didn’t feel like dancing last night. For those that don’t know his history, he has grown up in orphanages. Moving from one to another because of behavior problems. The last one he was in decided to send him to us because it was discovered he was HIV Positive. He has done well with us and is now in the forth grade.

A few weeks ago an older man came to our place with two other men and said that he was Tee’s father. He had gone from orphanage to orphanage looking for his son. Tee didn’t show much emotion when his father was here but was more excited after his father left, because he had brought him a whole box of dried noodles  and it made him feel good to know that he actually had family and that they had left him something that he could share with other kids.

Tonight just before the dance the two men showed up again, only this time his father wasn’t with them. He had died earlier in the day and they had come to take Tee home for the funeral. Tee declined their offer and after they left I thought I saw a teardrop falling from his eyes. Showing emotion is not something Tee does very often.

Have a Merry Christmas and remember to appreciate the things you already have more then anticipate the things you might be getting this Christmas.

Wayne Dale Matthysse

It was a big day for three of our boys as they made the journey into Phnom Penh by Tuk-tuk for the first time. They were the actors in the video Child’s Play by Andy Grey and the video was being shown at the Meta House in the evening. Andy and his family invited us to their home for the occasion and provided for all of our needs. It was the first time being in the city for Nith, Lak, and Doar and they had a great time. Long Dy has made the journey several times for Yoga class. Little things fascinated them, like sleeping in a house with three floors, hot showers, a real bed to sleep on that they didn’t have to share with someone, and a fan to keep them cool all night. I enjoyed very much watching them take it all in.

Before the show we were treated to a very nice meal at a popular restaurant with a great menu but of course they were only interested in rice.  Fortunately Andy ordered some side dishes and we had more then enough to eat. The video was well received and the boys were acknowledged for the work they had put into making it.

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The following morning we walked around town for awhile and they saw for themselves the newest high rise on the Phnom Penh’s skyline. It was definitely an eye-opening time for them but they were also very happy when I asked them if they were ready to go back to Wat Opot.